Tom Ellis Robinson joyfully met his Jesus on June 30, 2019, after suffering a massive stroke. He was 83. Born the youngest of seven brothers and one sister, he made his debut at home, on the family farm, April 19, 1936, to John Wesley Robinson and Mary Elizabeth Price Robinson, a Plano pioneer family. Tom grew up making mischief with his brothers and enjoying farm life, later graduating from Prosper High School, where he was an award-winning member of FFA. Through the years, he loved telling people he graduated in the top 20 of his class (there were only 19 students). After graduation, he entered the work force with Mobil Oil, then housed in the Magnolia building in downtown Dallas. He started in the basement print shop and literally worked his way up the building, to the commercial marketing department, before retiring in 1991. It was there where he met his beloved Sharon, marrying her at his home church, First Christian, Plano, on September 3, 1960, enjoying almost 59 years of marriage. Together, they raised their three children, Melinda, Keith, and Roger, in the same church, where he served as both Deacon and Elder, and between two homes, one in east Plano and one in west. His service extended to his country in the Air National Guard and to the Plano Masonic Lodge, where he followed his father and all his brothers, serving as master of the Lodge. Outside all his service, however, his priority was his family, as he attended every school, sports, and music performance of all three children, and made sure they knew every member of their extended family, taking them “visiting” every Sunday, after church. Following retirement, when he wasn’t investing and delighting in his grandchildren (and, later, great-grandchildren), his service didn’t stop, as he and Sharon provided many years of church services for a local nursing home community and sponsored the Happy Day senior group at First Christian for 18 years. Tom never knew a stranger, quickly making friends who all felt they were his best, and remaining loyal to each one, regardless of time and distance. He was a sunset-lover, fall-leaf-gazer, and wild-flower-presenter. He dreamed of tinkering with vintage cars and passionately belted out Southern-Gospel with the gusto of a stage performer, whether in key, or not. The love of his Savior was regularly fleshed out through good-natured jokes, ear-to-ear grins, and breath-stealing hugs, gifting countless people with his hallmark encouragement, and forever changing the landscape of heaven with his well-spent, faithful time on earth.
He was welcomed into heaven by his parents, John and Mary Robinson, brothers and sisters-in-law, James (Margaret) Robinson, JW (Irma) Robinson, Quentin (Altha) Robinson, Leland (Grace) Robinson, Vernon (Ann) Robinson, Lewis Robinson, sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ellen (Frank) Hanna, and nephew and niece, Leland Howell (Leah) Robinson. He is deeply missed by his wife, Sharon Robinson, children, Melinda (Kevin) Garman, Keith (Beth) Robinson, Roger (Laurie) Robinson, grandchildren, Maddie Garman, Emmie (Todd) Gilmore, Owen Robinson, Luke Robinson, and Claudia Leede, great-grandchildren, Lilli, Brody, and Landry Gilmore, nieces and nephews, Lisa (Jeff) Welsh, Jane Rhoades, Margaret (Mark) Sutton, Rebecca (Jesse) Morris, Mary Robinson, Johnnie (Pat) Robinson, Carolyn (Tommy) Long, and Beverly (Robert) Davis, two generations of great nieces and nephews, and countless dear friends.
Visitation will be held at Ted Dickey Funeral Home - Plano, 2128 18th St., Plano, TX 75074, on Sunday, July 7, 2019, from 5:00-7:00pm. Funeral services will be held at First Christian Church, 813 E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074, on Monday, July 8, 2019 at 11:00am, where the family can be greeted immediately following, in the Fellowship Hall. Interment service will take place at Plano Mutual Cemetery at 1:30 PM, 2128 18th St., Plano, TX, 75074. Memorial donations can be made to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, TX 75227, www.texasbaptistmen.org or A House on Beekman, 321 Beekman Ave. #2, Bronx, NY 10454, www.ahouseonbeekman.org.
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